‘Brass monkey approach’ over spies inquiry

Kate Wilson, who claimed she was the partner of an undercover police officer, and Jason Kirkpatrick, an activistJONATHAN PORTER/PRESS EYE

An anti-globalisation activist has won the first stage of a legal battle to have a major inquiry into alleged wrongdoing by undercover British police officers in Northern Ireland.

Jason Kirkpatrick was granted leave to seek a judicial review of the British government’s refusal to widen a public inquiry into undercover Metropolitan police officers who infiltrated protest groups beyond England and Wales.

The force formally apologised following revelations that officers had deceived the women they had entered into sexual relationships with while they were spying on them.

The Pitchford inquiry is limited to police activities in England and Wales despite evidence that several officers were working under aliases in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Scotland.